EXTRA THOUGHTS

Here are some extra thoughts/tidbits about each beat on the EP!

1. Temple

Made this beat during the COVID-19 lockdowns. I love the catchy main synth—combined with the drum patterns and NY Drill 808's, it gives the beat a really unique hip-hop feel. You haven’t heard a beat like this before!

2. Woo Hah!

Another beat I made during the COVID-19 lockdowns. I remember sending this to one of my OGs (shoutout to Andre Davey), and he went crazy over it—so much so that he had to call me and tell me he wanted to send it to one of his boys who raps. That reaction was the confirmation I needed that this beat was solid.

Oh, and by the way, I named this after Busta Rhyme's song "Woo-Hah!! Got You All in Check".

3. Rolling Rolling

This beat came from being in an hip-hop WhatsApp group chat with the OG (Andre Davey) I mentioned in the previous track. They were reminiscing, sending each other songs to check out. I decided to listen to one of them, which ended up being the sample for this track: Planet Asia - "Charcoal". As soon as I heard the piano, I knew I wanted to sample it!

I used AI to separate the stems, sampled the main melody, and then added my own drums. I love the simplicity of this beat!

4. Advice Giver

This was the last beat I picked for the EP. I vibe a lot with the main piano sample—but it’s the more modern/trap-style elements (like the 808 and clap) that give it a fresh yet old-school feel. The perfect blend of Boom Bap and today’s sound. The bounce is undeniable.

Co-Produced w/ Khidd Tank

5. Teriyaki Boyz

IYKYK—I named this after Japan’s biggest (?) rap group. They were so big that they even collaborated with Kanye West on a track called "I Used To Love H.E.R". Love that track!

Either way, what I love most about this beat is the horn sample (shoutout to Khidd Tank for finding it). I wanted to blend a Drill-Boom Bap vibe—the kicks and snares lean Boom Bap, while the hi-hat pattern is pure Drill. That, combined with the hard-hitting kick, gives this beat a crazy vibe!

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS

Writing this journal entry (March 8, 2025, 11:50 PM) while bumping Bruno Mars’ "Versace On The Floor". What a banger!

Anyway—this is my first hip-hop/rap tape. I wanted to showcase this side of my production skills a bit before heading back to R&B. You know, a little switch-up real quick.

This Wednesday, I’m planning to film my first video content since I started releasing instrumentals. I’ve got everything set—picked out my outfits (shoutout to BooHooMan), rented the studio (shoutout to Lynx Studio), and booked my camera guy (shoutout to Janko)! I’ll be "performing" my beats on camera (aka fake-pressing some buttons, haha) because I feel like it's finally time to give viewers a visual representation of what I do as a producer.

It’s a little out of my comfort zone, but I think it’s a necessary step to push my career forward. Honestly, I believe the money I put into ads will have a way bigger impact with these videos—I think they’ll be way more engaging and could seriously boost my followers and streams.

We’ll see how it all comes together, but I’m excited to find out.

Oh, and R&Ben Vol. 3 drops in April—stay tuned!

STREAM "Break Necks" NOW!

SUPPORT BENSTAR

Check out these premium R&Ben products to add to your collection. 50¢ from every order supports the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund.

View all